FARM JOB: Chase, BC – Golden Ears Farm

Join us at Golden Ears Farm to see what happens on a certified organic farm over the course of a full season cycle. This farm job is a full-time position throughout the 2017 growing season.

About Golden Ears Farm

We are a third-generation family farm committed to growing healthy food using organic practices, and living as self sufficiently as we can.

We have 34 acres in Secwepemc territory beside the South Thompson River and near a village called Chase. We share our land with our chickens, pigs, dog (soon to bring a puppy home!), bees and three cats. In 2016, 20.4 of our 34 acres were certified organic (NOOA 04-208), with the rest being fully certified in 2017.

Our main crops are corn, strawberries, raspberries and squash, and we also grow a wide variety of vegetables and fruits. We attend farmers’ markets in the area, run a CSA Food Box, and sometimes host events such as seminars and concerts.

We are deeply involved with the farm/food community, so there are lots of opportunities to attend farm tours & potlucks and get involved at an organizational level with local food groups.

Application Deadline: January 15, 2017

Start Date: March 15, 2017 (part-time hours to begin with)

End Date: October 31, 2017 (part-time hours as the season tapers off)

Full-Time Farm Job

Working with us mainly involves propagation, (trans)planting, weeding, harvesting, selling organic vegetables and fruit, as well as learning-through-doing while working alongside the farm managers, casual employees and berry pickers. Care of our laying hens is also part of the day-to-day goings-on here. Once confident, the employee is expected to be able to complete jobs without constant supervision. Time will be made each week for focused learning on topics such as: crop planning, soil basics, weed ID, greenhouse management and planting schedules.

There will also be plenty of opportunities to help out with the parts of our farm you’re most interested in — food preservation, slaughter and butchering, selling at local farmer’s markets, learning about composting, helping with our growing CSA program, construction and carpentry.

There will be some shared meals, however most meals will be the employee’s own responsibility — with free access to the ‘farmer’ corner in our cooler to choose fresh fruit & veg for your meals. Private on-farm accommodation is available with shared laundry. We have a beautiful multi-purpose studio, sauna, fire-pit, and extensive library, which the apprentice is welcome to use.

We ask that the employee commit to 35 to 40 hours per week with 1.5 – 2 days off a week from mid-March to mid-or late October. Part-time hours are the norm for the beginning and end of the season. A visit beforehand definitely seems like a good idea for all of us, if it’s possible! A wage of $11/hour will be paid, with the possibility of earning additional income through fruit picking.

Our Ideal Farm Worker

We’re looking for someone who:

• is interested in learning the basics of farming
• enjoys working in all weather conditions
• is hard-working, physically fit (able to engage in tasks that involve bending, squatting and lifting, sometime for hours at a time), enthusiastic about sustainable organic farming, self-sufficiency, and highly motivated to help out, learn and work alongside us!
• can take direction and is self-motivated to complete a task
• our skill set wish list (although willingness to learn these things is just fine as well): ability to operate tractors, seed cleaners, grain mill, and power tools/chain saws; equipment maintenance; tree pruning/care; irrigation; and fencing.

To Apply

To apply for this farm job, send a short cover letter and resume to Michelle Tsutsumi (goldenearsfarm@gmail.com) that includes:

• Why you would like to work at Golden Ears Farm
• Other farming experience you have
• What areas of farming you have specific interest in learning
• Applications must be received by January 15, 2017 and interviews will take place on a rolling basis. Due to the number of applicants, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.